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The HOME BUSINESS REPORT is published online by WizInfo CBCS Minneapolis
   Serving small/home-based business and the Minnesota film industry.
         612-721-8859   FidoNet 1:282/2022   AmberNet 105:612/1
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HOME BUSINESS REPORT
DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A JOLT?
By Michelle J. Bloom
Does your business need a jolt?  Need more work?  Take a deep
breath, go back to your marketing plan and choose a few vehicles
that will help to bring in a bit more business.  Some marketing
vehicles can have an immediate impact while others may take a
little time.  Here are a few suggestions from the Creative
Business Consulting marketing plan that will help bring more
business in the door.
Go to an association meeting or other business gathering.  You'll
have a chance to meet people who don't yet know about you.  Not
only that, if you're feeling down, this can help re-motivate you. 
Do all your past clients know about how your services may have
changed since you last saw them?  If you have changed your
services, added something new or even changed your sales
materials, make sure everyone knows.  Don't just think of
clients, either; consider colleagues who need to be updated as
well.  Then, follow-up; a week after they have received the new
materials, call them to touch base.  Find out how things are
going for them.  Do they have any questions?  Is there anything
you can do?
Think of a special offer for past and present clients.  They
already know and trust you.  What can you offer them at a
discount that would be worthwhile and bring them in the door
again?
Find an association meeting to speak at about your expertise. 
You will probably be doing this for free, but potential clients
are in the audience.  Be sure to impart knowledge, this is the
greatest selling vehicle, and have your card and sales materials
out on the table.  Do not spend time selling yourself, the skill
and knowledge you provide during the talk will instill trust.    
Have you  had any recent publicity?  Do a mailing to current and
prospective clients; let them know what you are up to.  
Write an editorial, commentary or article and get it published
where your potential clientele will see it.  Not only is this a
vehicle in itself, but you can take advantage of this by getting
professional reprints and sending it out to everyone on your
mailing list.  
Though this one takes some time, ask yourself what else you can
offer to your clients.  Are they leaving after a certain point? 
What other needs do they have that you can fulfill?  It is easier
to develop and offer a new service to meet existing clients needs
than it is to find new clientele for your present service.  If
you aren't sure what you can offer, call them, they will tell you
what they need.  
Offer your services at a silent auction.  You will be giving a
little of your service away for free, but what you gain is worth
it.  New people see your name, and the person who has won the bid
for your services, has then worked with you, knows your skill and
will potentially refer others to you. 
Brainstorm other marketing vehicles with a colleague.  Call a
colleague you are close to and invite them to coffee; let them
know you want to replenish your client list through marketing and
would like some help brainstorming.  They will benefit from it,
too!  
There are many books on the shelves about marketing.  One that I
use as a reference is Jay Conrad Levinson's, Guerrilla Marketing
Weapons.  Not only can you easily flip through and choose the
marketing vehicles that interest you, but he succinctly explains
one way of writing a full marketing plan as well.  
I think the important thing here is to keep moving; do not stop
marketing.  Not only is being idle bad for your confidence level,
you won't have any business tomorrow, either.
After ten years in business, my sense is that business grows if
you market well - have a variety of marketing vehicles and are
always marketing; have been listening to your clients and are
meeting their needs;  and have your sales materials portraying
you and your services well.  
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Michelle J. Bloom is founder of Creative Business Consulting, a homebased
and small business consulting firm and resource center.  You may contact 
her with your questions and comments at (612)722.2213 or by e-mail at
michelle.j.bloom@wizinfo.com.
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This article first appeared in print in SOUTHSIDE PRIDE.
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